Polybia sericea (Olivier, 1792) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) predated by Thomisidae (Araneae) in an area of ​​campo rupestre, Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil

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  Polybia sericea (Olivier, 1792) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) predated by Thomisidae (Araneae) in an area of ​​campo rupestre, Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil Summary Trophic interactions between predators play a fundamental role in ecological regulation and ecosystem stability. Social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae), such as Polybia sericea (Olivier, 1792), are predators and potential pollinators, but are also subject to predation by various taxa, including spiders. This study records, for the first time, the predation of P. sericea by a spider of the Thomisidae family in a rocky field in the Pico do Itambé State Park (PEPI), Minas Gerais, Brazil, on September 12, 2024. The event was observed on a shrubby Fabaceae species during its fertile period, where the spider may have used camouflage to capture the social wasp. This record raises questions about the occasional nature of predation of social wasps by ambush spiders, especially on plants that provide food resources for these insects...

First record of Aenigmarachne Schmidt, 2005 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Colombia, with the description of a new species and the first described female

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First record of Aenigmarachne Schmidt, 2005 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Colombia, with the description of a new species and the first described female

Abstract

The previously monotypic genus Aenigmarachne Schmidt, 2005, known only from a single male specimen collected presumably in Isla el Coco, Costa Rica, is reported here for the first time in Colombia, with the description of a new species based on male and female specimens. Thus, we expand the known geographic range of the genus and enhance our understanding of Theraphosinae diversity in northern South America and Colombia. Additionally, we provide detailed observations on the urticating setae in the species and discuss aspects of its natural history.

Osorio, L.M., Polo, J.S. Ávila, Sabbatino, A.F. & Martínez, L.A.S. (2025) First record of Aenigmarachne Schmidt, 2005 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Colombia, with the description of a new species and the first described female. Zootaxa, 5723 (4), 550–564. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5723.4.5